Craig closed his locker and sighed, leaning his head against the cool metal and feeling it against his burning forehead. What a day this was turning out to be.
He had done some serious thinking in bed the night before, and had come to a conclusion. He liked Manny, he was very strongly attracted to her, but she was nothing like Ashley. Ash was his girlfriend, and he was committed to her. He couldn't do something like that to her.
He had laughed aloud after that thought. "Apparently, I just did. I invited another girl to an important event in my life. I'll never hear the end of it if I don't un-invite Manny."
As he had drifted off to sleep, Craig had resolved to talk to Manny first thing and try to worm out of the invitations he'd made and accepted.
He hadn't even made it into the school building before Manny had accosted him.
"Craig! Hey!" she had bounded up to him as he ascended the steps in front of the school in her cute, perky way, a big smile on her face.
Craig had forced a smile, and replied with an uncertain "Morning, Manny."
Manny smiled wider and played with the sleeve of Craig's jacket. "So, I asked my Mom about you coming over for Thanksgiving dinner, and me going to yours later on, and she agreed!"
Craig had to force another smile at that. "Great, Manny, I, uh…can't wait then." He made himself walk away then, before he could burst out with "I'd rather have Ashley at my house" and hurt Manny's feelings. He was a coward, he knew, but he couldn't do it.
Not when she smiled at him like that.
But he didn't notice her watching him enter the school building with a puzzled expression on her pretty face.
Ashley had been waiting for him at his locker. He studied her as he approached. She had her head down, and was fingering the gothic black cross on the choker she wore around her neck. She looked preoccupied, and he wondered if Ash had seen Manny bounce up to him on the steps. He hoped not. He simply had to remedy this situation with Manny…and soon.
Before Ashley found out.
"Hi, Ash!" he greeted her, and she jumped a mile before her eyes rested on him.
"Sorry, you scared me a little, I was kinda…thinking." She said, and cast her eyes to the floor.
Craig felt a momentary flutter of worry at this. "What's wrong? Is it about Thanksgiving?" he asked, almost hopefully.
"No," replied Ashley, "I was wondering…um…you know the chords you were playing in the garage the other day?"
Craig nodded, wondering where this was going. "Yeah? What about them?"
Ashley blushed. "Would you…um…would you want to write a song with me?"
Craig was open-mouthed. Ashley, the talented musician and singer, was asking him to collaborate on a song! This was his dream, the way he had hoped their relationship would go in the beginning. Music was their thing, and…
"Craig?" Ash's voice broke through his thoughts. "What is it? Is it a stupid idea? Because I could always…"
"No." Craig silenced her with a kiss on the lips. "I think it's perfect. It'll be perfect. We're perfect."
Ashley looked up at him, happiness in her blue eyes. "Perfect." It was like she was turning the word over and over in her mind. "Yeah, that's the word for it all. Perfect." She smiled brightly and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going to be late," she said, "I better get going." She turned to leave.
Craig felt light as a feather suddenly. This had turned out to be a good morning after all.
Ashley took a few steps down the hall, then turned around abruptly. "Oh, Craig!" she called back to him. "Mom says yes about you eating with us, then me eating with you on Thanksgiving!" She waved once more, and then her figure disappeared into the crowded hall.
Craig's stomach dropped into his shoes. "Oh no," he said to himself. "Thanksgiving! I had nearly forgotten about that. What am I going to do?"
"About what?" a male voice said near his right shoulder.
Craig spun around, startled, to find Spinner behind him, the usual goofy grin on his face. He hadn't realized he'd spoken aloud until then. "Uh, Spin? Can I ask you something?"
A strange look crossed Spinner's face but he nodded, "Yeah, what is it?"
Craig cleared his throat and laughed a little. "Well, um, have you ever invited two girls to the same place before? At the same time, I mean?"
Spinner laughed and said, "You've got to be kidding me! Never, man! I'm not into pain and death, let alone getting dumped by two girls at once."
"No?" Craig asked, in a small voice, his face very pale.
"No." Spinner said clearly, his eyebrows raised. "Craig. What did you do?" he asked, more stern this time.
Craig smiled crookedly. "Well, I accidentally invited both Ash and Manny to my house to eat Thanksgiving dinner."
Spinner looked shocked. "Manny Santos? Wow, she's hot!" He got a dreamy look on his face for a second.
"Spinner!" Craig snapped his fingers in front of Spinner's face. "That's not the point! The point is, I'm supposed to be with Ashley."
Spinner looked confused this time. "So why'd you invite Manny?"
Craig sighed, exasperated. "I don't know! That's why I'm asking you what I should do."
Spinner shook his head, amazed. "You're on your own there, pal. I don't know what to tell you." He patted Craig's shoulder and walked off, chuckling. "Manny Santos, oh my…" he muttered as he left.
Craig watched him leave, helplessly. "Ok, maybe Spinner was the wrong person to ask." He shrugged, and turned back to his locker. When he took out the books he needed for his first two classes, he sighed and closed the door, then leaned against it, feeling the coolness of the metal on his burning forehead.
This was getting a little out of hand, he decided.